Understanding the process of transfer of training in the workplace

Understanding the process of transfer of training in the workplace

This thesis aimed to describe the conditions under which transfer of training would occur and the processes that are involved in the transfer of training to the workplace. Two studies were conducted that assessed the individual, situational, and training design factors that impacted on the transfer of training to the workplace. Study 1 examined the influence of individual and situational factors on the achievement of trainees’ transfer goals. Trainees’ goals for transfer and their commitment to those transfer goals were found to act as mediators of the influence of self-efficacy, motivation, and situational constraints on transfer goal achievement. This result supported previous research that has shown that the impact of personal and situational factors on performance is mediated by the personal goal level and level of goal commitment (Wofford, Goodwin & Premack, 1992). Study 2 was based on a model of the determinants of training transfer proposed by Thayer and Teachout (1995). The model was modified to focus on the determinants of trainees’ transfer implementation intentions and implementation activities. Climate for transfer was assessed prior to training commencing and was found to influence pre-training levels of self-efficacy. However, positive and negative affect also influenced pre-training levels of both self-efficacy and motivation, and the two climate for transfer factors (Positive and Negative Work Climate) were found to influence positive and negative affectivity, respectively. It was concluded that climate for transfer does impact direct and indirectly on pre-training levels of self-efficacy and motivation. A second structural model found that pre-training self-efficacy is a strong determinant of the learning that occurs during training, and the level of post-training self-efficacy. Post-training self-efficacy is a strong determinant of transfer implementation intentions, which in turn were a strong determinant of implementation activities. Implementation activities were positively related to transfer success. Separate structural models were developed to assess the impact of in-training transfer enhancing activities on learning, post-training self-efficacy, transfer implementation intentions, and implementation activities. Self-control cues, relapse prevention activities, and goal setting (when assessed separately) were found to positively influence post-training self-efficacy and implementation intentions. Relapse prevention activities and goal setting (when assessed separately) were also found to positively influence implementation activities. The results strongly supported the modified model of training transfer that was presented. It was also concluded that situational factors do exert an indirect influence on the transfer process, apart from simply influencing what trainees are able to do after training has completed (Mathieu & Martineau, 1997, Quiñones, 1997).